Corn-husking machine.



PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

W. H. SELLS. CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.20, 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 890.185. PATENTED JUNE 9, 1908.

W. H. SELLS. CORN HUSKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 20. 1906.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WTLLIAM n. sntiis, on

'17 "t tre; li i r Mm ran it ornate BUFJFALO, NEW YORK, ASSIGLUR. BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO

PEERLESS l'IlTSlil'lR COMPANY, Ul FRPIDUNLX, NEW YORK.

CORN-IUSKING- MACKZNE.

Application filed January 20, 1906.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1 human ll. SELLS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Buffalo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Corn-flushing i\l.achines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a machine for re moving the husks from green corn prepara toryto cutting the kernels from the cob.

The object of this invention is the production of a machine for this purpose which is com aratively simple in construction and can 0 produced at low cost, and which will effectually and expeditiously remove the husks from the corn without bruising the kernels.

In the accom anying drawings consisting of two sheets: .igure 1 is a top plan view of a corn husker embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section of the feeder of the machine taken in line 2 2, Fig. 1 and looking toward the receiving end of the feed table. Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are transverse sections of the machine in the correspondingly numbered lines Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a vertical longitudinal section on an enlarged scale, taken in the saine line as Fig. 2 but looking toward the delivery end of the feed table. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary longitudinal section in line 77, Fig. 1, showing part of the machine for driving a delivery belt of the hush- 'ing rollers. I

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views.

In its general organization the machine consists of a device for removing the husks from the corn, devices for shredding the tip end of the corn and trimming oil' the butt end thereof preparatory to being delivered to the liuski'ng 'device, a feed mechanism whereby the corn is carried past the shredding and trimming devices and deliveredito the hushing device, and a delivery mechanism operating to move the corn over the husking device and discharge the same from the machine.

A represents the main l'ran'ie ol' the machine which may be of any suitable construction to support the various working parts.

The husking device cpnsists of two parallel rollers B B which are preferably constructed of rubber and engage each other on their inposing sides. These rollers are preferably journaled horizontally in the main frame and Specification of Letters Yaten t.

Iatented June 9, 1908.

Serial N0. 296,922.

the outer roller B is arranged somewhat higher than its companion inner roller it. These rollers are caused to rotate in uni on by means of intermcshing gear wheels i; secured to the l'ront ends of their shafts and the same are rotated so that their opposing sides move downwardly by means of a chain belt ('1 passing at one end around a sprocket wheel 0 on a main or driving shalt D while its opposite and passes around a sprocket pinion c secured to the shaft of the inner husking roller B, as shown in Fig. 1. The ears of the corn to be husked are delivered on top or the husking rollers at the front end tl'mreol' and, then moved lengthwise of these rollers toward the rear end thereof. During this movement. of the corn the bushing rollers grasp the husks and )Ull or strip the same from the ears and discharge the husks downwardly below the rollers while the cob bearine the kernels is discharged from the rear or tail end of the rollers.

The rearward movement of the corn on the husliing rollers is preferably etl'm-ted by means of a delivery belt or conveyor i provided'w'ith clearing wings or blades 0, which latter are adapted, to move lengthwise over the husking rollers. The delivery belt pas with its front and rear portions around horrzontal supporting wheelsff arranged at the receiving and delivery ends of the hi ing rollers in such a position that the open .ive. portion of the delivery belt is arranged lengthwise and horizontally above the outer elevated husking roller B. Lengthwise adjacent to the outer side of the inner or lower roller B is arranged a vertical plate G which is rigidly secured to the main frame. This plate and the operative portion of the deivery belt I) together form the walls of a longitudinal guide-way or cl anncl whereby the ears of corn are conlined against lateral displacement on the bushing rollers as the same are moved lengthwise thereof.

The rear supporting wheel f of the delivery belt 1 is mounted on a vertical pin 0- arbor ol' the main l'rameadjaeont to the delivery end of the bushing rollers while the front whoelfis secured to the upper end of a vertical shalt F which is journaled in any suitable way on the main frame adjacent to the receiving end of the bushing rollers. The deliverybelt may be operated from the main driving shaft in any suitable manner. ,The means for this purpose. shown in Figs. 1 to "f the drawings, consist of horizontal ;-:l .c ll .:onnecti-:d at one end by inter1ncshlog bevel gear. wheels ft with the lower end of i1 1 vertical shaft F a chain belt I pa. in at its o; positc ends around sprocket eels 'i i secured, .res iiectively, to the opllllmlft, end of the horizontal shaft ii. and a u cr shaft J, and a chain belt K passing d a. sprocket wheel on the counter and a counter pinion it on the driving draft.

represents the feed. table over which the 1335 of corn are. moved in presenting the same the shredding and trimming mechanism lilo lcliverin the same to the h risking rollers. i table is arranged on the same side of the ng rollers as the plate G at the front or i. ting ends thereof and the corn is carried on the receiving toward'thc delivery end of this table in a direction at right angles to the lnisliing rollers. As shown in the draw ings this table comprises a plurality of parallel bars Z which are separated from each l cl so as to form intervening slots Z. Thc frcnt portions of these table bars are arranged horizontally and at a higl'ier plane than the upper edge of the fixed plate or wall (l of the corn guide-way but the rear portions of these bars incline downwardly from the ear end of the. horizontal portions and terminate at the upper ci'lge of said wall.

The cars of corn which are to be hushed are placed, one at a time, preferably by hand, upon the receiving portion of the table in a position crosswise thereof but parallel to the husking rollers, as shown in Fig. The cars are then moved in this position from the receiving to the delivery end of the feed table by means of a. plurality of carriers m each of which is preferably constructed in the form of a comb or toothed wing. These wings are secured to a feed belt M arranged below the bars of the feed table and moving with its receiving and delivery portions aroun d vertically rotating SLIPPOI'tlDg' wheels m m. As each feed wing moves around the receiving sprocket wheel 'm. from the lower inoperative to the upper operative side of said belt,

its teeth are carried iu'iwardly through the slots between thc bars of the table and project above thc upper side thereof in rear of the place where the cars of corn to bc hushed arc placed upon the feed table.

As the wings niovc forward with the upper operative part of the fccd belt it moves lengthwise through the slots between the bars in the feed table and (.tiIrlcs theorn resting tlmrcon crosswisc from tlu rccciving to the dclivery end of thc table. \i'hen the corn reaches the (lehvcrv end of lhc table thc wing engaging therewith is wi'hdrawn thcrclrom by the g downwardly around the feed ;l -:i passi m to the lower mop-- clincd guidc plate 0 arranged transversely abovc the receiving portion of the feed table and secured at its dcprcsscd front or outer end to and table and a plurality of inclined .L'uidc bars 0 extending from the elevated rear cnd of the guide plate downwardly and rcarwardly to the horizontal bars of the feed table, as shown in Figs. 1, 4 and c. The 0 craior places the ears of corn successive y upon the table and against the guide bars in which position thcy will be propi-irly cngagcd by the l'cclh of the feed wings which move through the space bctwccn the guide bars.

in ordcrlo prcvcut the ears of corn from accidcutallv rolling forward to an undesirable extent and becoming displaced on the table; after being dcprcsscd thereon by the operator a d tcnt dcvicc provided which prcfcrably consists of a rock shafl l arranged horizontaily and. transvcrscly above the feed table in front of the guide bars 0 and provided with a plurality of forwardly and downwardly inclined 'lingcrsp which are yicldingly held in engagmcnt with the upper side of the table bars by means of a spring f. This shaft is hollow and journalcd on a hori- Zontal rod Q which is secured at one end to a bracket or standard rising from the adjav plus of thc'butt or still) preparatory to rcmoving the hush from the corn. The cars of corn are preferably placed upon the feed tablc with the tip end at the left side of the table and the butt or stub end at the right side of the table and theshrc lding and trimming devices are arranged adjacent to the correspondii'ig sides of the tablc,:as shown in the-drawings, but this arrangement, if desired, may be reversed.

The preferred construction of the shredding devices is constructed hs follows: It rep rcscnts a plurality of cutters or blades which are arranged ci um'fcrcntially and at different. heights ar-nmd a horizontally rotating hub 1' and a adapted to sweep through the path of thc Ii end. of the corn on one sid e of said hub. 'l llcsc cutters are sufficient in nunil-n' and arc rotated at a sullicicntly high speed that the husks at the tip end of the corn upon passing the same are shredded finel y or brushed out so as to thorougl'ily loosen up the interwoven husks at this end of the corn and free them from the kernels inclosed -'thereby. v

The cutters are preferably rotated so that they move in a direction. 0 posite to that of 'the corn upon engaging the latter, thereby increasing the effectiveness of the shredding blades and avoiding displacement of the corn while being operated upon. The shredding blades are preferably curved in thedirection in which they rotate so that they cut with a drawing action and thus facilitate the shredding of the husks. The hub of the shredding blades issecured to the upper end of a vertical'shaft S which is journaled in bearings on the adjacent part of the main frame and is rotated by intermeshing bevel gears 3 secured respectively to the counter shaft and the lower end of the vertical shaft S, as shown in Fig. 2. I

In order to enable the operator to place the corn in position on the feed table so as to be properly engaged by the shredding blades a gage or bar T is arranged lengthwise along the left side of the feed table and projects above the top of the same. The operator in placing the corn upon the table moves-the tip thereof against the gage and as the corn is carried forwardly by the feed wings the tip thereof is moved through the path of the shredding blades. For permitting variation in the extent of the shredding operation on the tip of the corn according to the character of the corn or other conditions,this gageis maile adjustable laterally relatively to the feed table by means of adjusting screws t assing through slotted lugs t on the gage rackets t on the main frame, as shown in the drawings, or by any other suitable means.

At the same time that the tip of thecorn is being shredded the stub or butt end thereof is trimmed. off so as to reduce the corn to a maximum length before reachingthe husking rollers, thereby reducing the wear upon said rollers which would be caused by leaving an unduly long stub on the corn. The preferred form of trimming device for this purpose which is shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings consists of a rotary lower cutter or disk U and an upper stationary cutter or. blade U arranged along side of the u )per part of the lower cutter. The edge of the up er cutter is preferably inclined tangentialy relatively to the low cutter and the latter is so rotated that its upper operative portion moves toward the edge of the upper cutter. The operative portions of those two cutters are so arranged that the-butt or stub end of the corn isin line with the forwardly converging surfaces of these cutters and is 651 trimmed off thereby in passing between the same. The lower rotary cutter is driven by the counter shaft J upon which it is mounted and the upper cutter is secured to the adjacent part of the main frame. The shredding and trimming devices are arranged adjacent to the rear end of the horizontal portion of the feed table at which point the feed wings still have full control of the corn and move the same past the shredding and trimming devices. After the corn has been thus shredded and trimmed at opposite ends the feed wings move the same down the inclined rear )OItiOI] of the feed table and upon the husking rollers, during which operation the wings are withdrawn from the corn below the table. The delivery of the corn from the inclined portion of the table to the husking rollers is due )artiy to the impetus given to the same v be feed wings aided by gravity. This delivery of the corn is effected transversely from the feed table through the top of the guide-way of the husking rollers at the receiving end thereof which permits both walls of this guide-way to be extended the full lengti'i of the husking rollers thereby insuring the retention of the corn in a parallel position reiatively to the husking rollers throughout the entire length thereof. This would not be possible if the corn were delivered sidewise upon the husking rollers. at substantially the same level inasmuch as this would necessitate the removal of a portion of the wall G at the receiving end thereof to permit of the passage of the corn, forming an abrupt edge against which the corn would be liable to engage and become bruised thereby reducing the uality of the product, and the corn is also fiablc to be caught thereby clogging the machine and incurring a loss of time.

()wing to the thorough loosening up or 5 separation of the liUSkSjLt the tip of the corn by means of, the shredding device the husking rollers are enabled to obtain a firm grip upon the individual leaves of the husks and remove the same from the ear successively 10 and thoroughly. This is not possible in attempting to remove the husks by rollers when the tips of the husks are unshredded because the entire tip is liable to be drawn in between the rollers at one timecausin'g an 1 5 undue strain-on the rollers and possible clogging of the same inasmuch as by this operation part of the husks are drawn from one side of the corn to the other over the tip and broken instead of being stripped off clean. Aside from being difficuit to husk ears of corn having their tips unshredded the same arc liable to have their kernels near the tip bruised or broken by the lateral pressure to which thov are subjected when the tip is grasped by I c bushing rollers and pulled or brokcn'oil' sidcwlsc across the .tip end of the corn.

In order 10- prevent displacement of the corn while moving over'thc delivery portion ol the teed tahicand Tll (1(('tl\'lll f por ion ol' the hu king rollwr a. retaining dcvicc is provided ronsii-iting prrl'erahly t a plurality ol :ralicl spring l il!' i Y which are arranged. hw se over the hars ol t he lecd lahle and trscl i oror the receiving portions ol 'nisking rollers. Earl: of these bars concrmc'liatc pori is suhstant'iailv parallel with thc portion ol' the 'lahlc, an upsis'ts oian inclined center or int whirl )art' i. the rollers. A

I i a \"lt'llllllf pressure on the corn. vita-t in, tilt. same is rciahly held in position on th lei-d, table while being operated upon. 1h:- corn clears l he iced ta resume their nor; to l'orni a closure ahovc thc receiving portion ol' the husking roller; and prevent the corn l'rom tipping up unduly at one end while the husks are being rcmovcd thcr lrom.

For the purpose oi conlining the cars ol' corn upon the delivery portion ol' the husking rollers the top ol' thc this portion ol' the rollers is (-ovcrcil by means ol a horizontal con-r or plate W. plate is prelcrahly connected with the upper edge ol' llhe 'lixcd side wall (I by hinges or which permit. the cover to swing vertically and horizontally and the same is hcld in its normal horizontal position hy means ol' springs X, whcreht this cover is enahlcd to yield when engaged hr a tipping ear ol corn and the kcrnals thereol' are prevented l'roin hcing hruised. in pulling or stripping the husks l'rom thc cars ol' ('t)l'il nearly all ol' the silks are also removed at thc same lime.

My improvedhusking machine in addition to removing the husks and silks thoroughly l rom the cars ol corn cll ccts this operation cxpediliousl and without lialiilit t' ol clogging the machine. thcrchy cuahling the machine to he run without int rruption and im'reasinglhcout put ihcreol'accordingly.

i claim as my invcnlion:

l. A corn husking machine romprising a ")airol cooperating husking rollers, a l'ccd talc arranged on one side olsaid rollers and composed of longitudinal hars which ar separated hy intervcning slots. a lecd hclt provided with teeth movahlc through said slots and operating to move the corn lcngll1\ .'i-1- thereon to said rollers and in a position allol with the latter, and a slalionary 1' lltii onahutmcnl having inclined liars arranged ahovc the receiving p rt ion ol aid lahlc, suhst;uiliall v-as scl t'orlh ole and the retaining hars thc latter nal depressed positi n so as guide-wit adjacent to i A corn husking machine mmprising a i l )air ol' coi'iperating huskine' rollers, a feed tai )l( arranged on one side ol' the luisking rollers and omposed ol a plurality of bars, a l'ecd helt having l'eclh projecting through l spaces lwlween said bars and adapted to propel the ears of corn to the husking rollers in a. l position parallel thereto, and a guide c0mj posed of a plate arranged above the receiving j portion otsaid table and inclined bars extending from the rear end of said plate down- 1 wardly and l'orwardlyto the bars of the tahlc, substantially as forth 1%. A corn husking machine comprising a. shredding device which is constructed and i UPPl'illC-S to loosen up the husks of the ear of l corn at the tip end thoreol, and means for l carrying the corn laterally with its end past; i said shredding device}suhstantially as set 'l'ortli. i A. corn husking machine comprising a. l rarrierconstructed and operating to carry l the cars ol corn laterally, and a shr dding del l l l l vice arranged in the path of the tips of the cars ol corn and having a plurality of meml licrs which are adapted to engage with said tips and shred them, substantially as srt l'orlh. A corn husking machine having means opt-rating to shred the husks at the tip end ol the corn, means operating to strip the ht:.-.ks from the corn, a l'ccd device whereby th corn is moved past said means which shred thc husks and to said means which strip the husks, and a delivery device wherein. the corn is moved past said means which strip the husks and discharge the same therefrom, substantially as set forth.

ti. A corn huskipg machii'ie having means for shredding the husk at the tip end ol the corn, means operating to cut, oil the hull ends, means opt-rating to strip the husks l'rom the corn, a lending device whereby the corn is: movcd laterally past saidmcans which shred the lmsks; cut oil the huttis and to said mean. which strip the husks, and a. delivery device whcrchy the corn is moved past said means whi h strip the husks and discharged thorol'roi'n, substantially as set l'orllr.

7. A corn husking machine comprising a l'ccd table. a l't-cd device opt-rating to move the corn in a crosswise position along said tahlc, and a shredding mcmher a1 'anged on one side ol' thc table and operating to shred the lip cnd ol' the husks ol the corn, sub-- slantially as set l'orlli.

N A corn husking mael'iino comprising a t'i-pd tahlca l'cod deviceoperating to move ilu: corn in a crosswise position along said lahlo, and a shredding mcmher arranged on Hlll' side ol' the table and operating to shred the tip cud ol' the husks ol the corn and havl ingrotating parts whirl] move through the path ol' the lip cud ol' thicorn, substantially i as cl l orlh.

l).';\ corn llll-'l\'lll,." machine comprising a feed table, a feed device operating to move the corn in a crosswise position along said table, and a shredding member arranged on one side of the table and operating to shred the tip end oi the husks of the corn and consisting of a plurality of cutter blades moving through the path oi the tip of the corn and mounted on the periphery of a rotary hub,

substantially as set forth.

1i). A corn husking machine comprising a feed table, a feed device operating to move the corn in a crosswise position along said table, and a trimming device for trimming oil the butt end of the corn arranged on one side of said table and consisting of two coo erating blades which receive the corn ben them and which meet above the upper t\ side of the table, substantially as set forth.

11. A. corn huskinq' machine comprising a food table, a feed device operating to move the corn in a crosswise position along said table, and a trimming device for trimming oil. the butt and of the corn arranged on one side of said table and consisting of a cooperating loweiir rotary (lislr-sl'iaped blade and an upper stationary blade having its edge inclin- Eng tangentially relatively to said rotary blade, substantially as set forth.

12. A corn husking machine comprising a feed table, a feed device for moving the corn in acrosswise position along said table, a shredding device arranged on one side of said table and operating to shred the tip end of the corn but not cut the same, and a trimming device arranged. on the opposite side of said table and (merating to cut oil the butt end of the corn, substantially as set forth.

A corn huslring machine comprising a pair of cooperating husking rollers, a feed table arranged on one side of said rollers, a feed device operating to move thecorn from said table to said'rollers, and-corn retaining inclines from said horizontal portion downwardly to said bushing rollers, and corn retaining springs each of which has an inclined intermediate portion above the inclined part of said table, an upwardly curved front part which is secured to a fixed support and a horizontal rear part which extends over the '-liusking rollers, substantially as set forth.

15. A corn husking machine comprising a pair of cooperating husking rollers, guide Walls arranged lengthwise on op )osite sides of said rollers, a cover arrangec over said rollers and pivoted on an axis arranged parallel to the rollers, and a spring which yieldingly holds said'cover in a depressed position, substantially as set forth.

16. A corn huskin'g machine comprising a pair of cooperating husking rollers, means for moving the corn lengthwise of said roll ers, a feed table arranged on one side of said rollers, a feed device operating to move the corn from said table to the receiving end of said rollers, retaining springs arranged length-v wise over said table and transversely over the receiving end of said rollers, and a cover arranged over the delivery end of said rollers, substantially as set forth.

Witness my hand this 11th day of Oct,

WILLIAM SELLS. W itnesses GEO. M. MisNEn, Tnno. L. Porr. 

